On 7 December 2025, several soldiers of the Benin Armed Forces led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri announced the overthrow of Beninese president Patrice Talon on national television, following an attack on Talon's residence in Cotonou and the residences of other top-ranking military officials. Benin requested military assistance from Nigeria, and hours later, Beninese interior minister Alassane Seidou claimed that the coup attempt had been thwarted. ECOWAS Standby Forces were then deployed to maintain security. Several people on both sides, including one civilian, were killed during the coup. == Background == Benin has been regarded as "one of Africa's more stable democracies". Although Benin faced instability during the first few years after its 1960 independence from France, no coup has taken place there since its 1991 multiparty election. The governments of Benin's neighbors Niger and Burkina Faso were overthrown in 2023 and in 2022, respectively; other countries in the region affected by coups include Mali and Guinea in 2021, and Guinea-Bissau just the month before. At the time of the coup, president Patrice Talon, in office since 2016, was due to leave office following elections scheduled in April 2026. In January 2025, two of Talon's associates were sentenced to 20 years in prison for allegedly plotting a coup against him in 2024. The coup was planned and executed from mutineers stationed at Camp Togbin in Fidjrosse. The assault teams that attacked the residences of high-ranking officials and the Presidential Palace organized their weapons from this camp. Pascal Tigri, who led the coup, was the former commander of the 3rd Combined Arms Battalion of the National Guard, and had recently been promoted to commanding the Special Forces group of the National Guard. Tigri and his men fought in the jihadist insurgency in Northern Benin. == Coup attempt == At around 02:00 WAT, a group of rebellious soldiers from the National Guard dispatched from Camp Togbin arrived at the home of Director of the Military Cabinet Bertin Bada in Abomey-Calavi, intending to kidnap him. While Bertin managed to flee, his wife Berthe was mortally wounded. Beninese security officials requested support from soldiers at Camp Togbin. Head of the National Guard Faizou Gomina was dispatched to the camp, where he was assaulted and held hostage by mutineering soldiers. The home of Army Chief of Staff Abou Issa was assaulted next. Issa resisted the initial group of soldiers sent to abduct him, but the mutineers sent reinforcements. Gomina and Issa were transported to Tchaourou, where they were released after the failure of the coup. At 05:00, the rebelling National Guard soldiers attacked the Presidential Palace in Cotonou. A battle broke out between the mutineers and members of the Republican Guard, with President Patrice Talon and high-ranking members of the Republican Guard watching over. The rebelling soldiers retreated to national broadcaster SRTB, where they held workers hostage. The French Embassy in Cotonou said that gunfire was heard at Camp Guezo, just north of SRTB and the Presidential Palace. At SRTB, a group of eight rebelling soldiers, led by Pascal Tigri, declared that Talon had been "removed from office as president of the republic". They also announced the suspension of the constitution and state institutions, and identified themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation (French: Comité Militaire pour la Refondation, CMR). The soldiers cited multiple reasons for staging the coup, such as Talon's management of the country, favoritism in the military, neglect for soldiers killed while under duty and their relatives, the deteriorating security situation in northern Benin, cuts to healthcare, increased taxes and restrictions on political activity. After the announcement, the signal to SRTB was shut off but was restored later in the day. Videos of military vehicles speeding down Boulevard de la Marina, where the Presidential Palace and the National Assembly are located, circulated around social media. Helicopters were reported to be flying over Cotonou. Soldiers at Camp Togbin then rebelled against the government, with the Beninois government requesting support from France and ECOWAS to quell the coup. The CMR later announced that all borders were closed, and that all political parties were suspended. Meanwhile, soldiers loyal to Talon claimed that he was safe, but his whereabouts were unknown, and that the "regular army" was "regaining control". A presidential adviser later told the BBC that Talon was at the French embassy. Beninʼs foreign minister, Shegun Adjadi Bakari, told Reuters that "there is a coup attempt but the situation is under control", and that "a large part of the army the national guard are still loyal to the president and are controlling the situation." Gunfire was reported near Cotonou, especially near the port and the official presidential residence, and helicopters were observed over the area. Soldiers also blocked access to the presidential residence, state television offices, the five-star Sofitel Cotonou hotel, and districts housing international institutions. Romuald Wadagni, the Beninese Minister of Finance, stated that the situation was "under control", "The mutineers are holed up" and "We are clearing them out, but it's not over yet. We are safe." Wilfried Houngbedji, the spokesperson for the Beninese government, stated that "Everything is fine." The U.S. Embassy in Cotonou urged U.S. citizens in Benin to avoid Cotonou and areas near the presidential compound. The rebel troops were still in control of the state television by 09:00 WAT (UTC+01:00). == Counter activities == Following two requests for assistance by the Beninese government, the Nigerian Air Force was deployed to Cotonou to dislodge the putschists, where precision airstrikes upon Togbin military camp were reported. Several putschists were killed. Nigeria also expelled the coup plotters from the state television headquarters and immobilized several armored vehicles. Nigerian ground forces entered Benin shortly after. This marked Nigeria's first foreign military intervention since the 2017 Gambian constitutional crisis. The Beninese government said on Tuesday that Ivorian soldiers arrived in Cotonou on Sunday night to thwart further attacks. Benin's interior minister, Alassane Seidou stated that the Benin Armed Forces thwarted the attempted coup at 11:09. The government credited loyalist troops for suppressing the coup. At least 14 people were arrested, including 12 active-duty soldiers and another who was dismissed. Twelve suspects are believed to have participated in the attack on state television. Tigri and several of his men remained fugitives by the night of December 7, and the fate of several hostages remained unknown until a Beninese military source stated all hostages had been "released". At 19:37, ECOWAS released a statement announcing the deployment of Nigerian, Sierra Leonean, Ivorian, and Ghanaian soldiers to aid the Beninese government in repelling the putschists. Later that evening, president Talon appeared on television and reiterated the failure of the coup, while promising to punish "this treachery". Following the attack, roads to and from the Presidential Palace were closed, with police officers in front diverting traffic from the scene. Traffic elsewhere in Cotonou was normal. == Reactions == The coup attempt was condemned by ECOWAS, the African Union, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Neighboring Nigeria called the coup a "direct assault on democracy" and praised Beninese security forces for "defending the constitutional order and guaranteeing the safety of the president". === Domestic === Kémi Séba, a candidate in the 2026 Beninese presidential election and pro-AES and pro-Russian blogger, expressed his support for the coup while it was ongoing. Other pro-AES social media accounts posted claims heralding the coup's success as soon as news broke. Les Democrates, the primary opposition party in Benin and party of former president Thomas Boni Yayi, condemned the coup and released a statement supporting the Beninese government. Boni Yayi himself released a statement in support of the government on December 7, expressing solidarity with Talon. The Islamic Union of Benin released a similar statement. The Cowry Forces for an Emerging Benin (FCBE) political party also condemned the coup attempt and released a statement in support of the government. Former president Nicephore Soglo also released a statement supporting the government. Rallies in favor of Talon's government were organized in Banikoara on December 9. == Notes == == References ==